Longtime El Paso pastor, Monsignor Francis J. Smith, dies at 85

EL PASO, Texas -- Long serving El Paso Monsignor, the Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Smith, has died at the age of 85, according the Catholic Diocese of El Paso.

Smith had been apart of the Diocese of El Paso since 1967. He began serving at St. Joseph Catholic Church as an associate pastor and as pastor All Saints Catholic Church. He then became the pastor at St. Pius X Catholic Church where he received the honorary title of Monsignor.

He served most recently at St. Raphael Catholic Church, where he oversaw the parish and the school for 29 years.

Funeral services will be on Wednesday with a viewing 1 p.m. at a rosary at 7 p.m. at St. Raphael's. Thursday a funeral mass will be held at St. Patrick Cathedral at 10 a.m. followed by a burial service at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

Smith passed away on Friday.